Transducing machine



June 7, 1966 c s 3,254,856

TRANSDUCING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l o o S Y MPHO NY No. 1 0 q 0 INVENTOR.

War/1' (4/21/45 I A TTOR YS June 7, 1966 CAMRAS TRANSDUGING MACHINE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1961 \\l l lllhllll h Q 3 y MA TTRzvEYsQQN United States Patent 3,254,856 TRANSDUCING MACHINE Marvin Camras,Glencoe, 111., assignor to IIT Research Institute, a corporation ofIllinois Filed July 17, 1961, Ser. No. 124,683 11 Claims. (Cl. 24255.13)

pending application is of a uniquely simple configuration and comprisesan ordinary spool having means thereon for retaining the end of a recordmedium threading portion therewith regardless of the point about theperiphery of the spool at which the free end of the threading por tionis located. One embodiment of the invention involves a spool havingperipheral shoulder portions projecting axially inwardly from theperipheral edges of the flanges and' defining a slot narrower than thewidth of the threading portion of the record medium but greater than thewidth of the active portion of the record medium. Since the confrontingpetipheral shoulder portions are symmetrical about the central axis ofthe spool, the end of the threading portion may be located at any pointabout the circumference of the spool and still be effectively retainedby the confronting shoulder portions.

Such a single spool cartridge has unique advantages over other types ofmagazines which have been proposed.

For example, magazine units having two spools permanent- 1y therein arerelatively bulky and costly and unreliable and are not compatible withexisting conventional machines. An endless band type magazine has thedisadvantage that the record must be run through entirely to return tothe beginning of the record, that is the direction of movement of therecord cannot be reversed. Records of any considerable length are likelyto bind and jam the supply system, and the record must be hand threadedor else the magazine must be relatively costly and contain relativelyunreliable parts. This endless band type magazine is also not generallycompatible with conventional machines.

The single spool magazine of the type shown in my copending applicationhas other important functional advantages in that the magazine may be ofcircular configuration and minmum overall dimensions, as compared with asingle spool magazine requiring separate housing walls in addition toits spool mechanism. A particularly important advantage of thesymmetrical type single spool cartridge as disclosed in my copendingapplication resides in the fact that the cartridge may be inserted ontothe transducer machine in any desired angular orientation and thus maybe simply dropped into a slot or the like, for example while driving orcarrying out some other function requiring constant attention. Suchasingle spool cartridge of the symmetrical type also has uniqueadvantages in adapting itself to an extremely simple automatic changermechanism such as disclosed in my copending application Serial No.41,860, filed July 11, 1960, now Patent No. 3,197,150, and also hassignificant advantages in computer applications and the like where alarge number of cartridges must be stored and rapidly selected asdisclosed in my copending application Serial No.- 97,590, filed March22, 1961, now Patent No. 3,134,550.

In my previous automatic threading machines, a pre- 3,254,856 PatentedJune 7, 1966 threaded tape-like leader has been arranged along thetransducing path and connected to the take-up reel and has been adaptedto be engaged with a suitable coupling part on the end of the recordmedium threading portion so as to lead the record medium from the singlespool cartridge along the transducing path and onto the take-up reel.The present invention relates to mechanism for directly disengaging thethreading portion of the record medium from the single spool cartridgeand leading the threading portion to a take-up device without thenecessity for a pre-threaded tape-like leader. By the construction ofthe present invention, much more rugged parts may be utilized and thepre-threaded leader which is subject to wear and deterioration withrepeated use is eliminated. Further, by the present invention, thetake-up device may be a single spool cartridge configuration identicalto the cartridge configuration placed on the supply position of themachine. In this manner, the number of different parts to be produced isdirninshed and at the same time the flexibility of the system is greatlyenhanced. Furthermore, the system of the presentinvention is fullycompatible with existing tape transport mechanisms and simply requiresthe addition of a few operating parts without any change in the existingtape transport mechanism itself.

It is therefore an important 'object of the the present invention toprovide a novel automatic threading transducer machine which does notrequire a pre-threaded leader.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel single spoolcartridge for an automatic threading transducer machine.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an automaticthreading mechanism which may be applied to existing tape transportmechanisms without requiring substantial reconstruction thereof.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novelmechanism for stripping the end of a threading portion of a single spoolcartridge from the cartridge and conducting the same along a transducingpath to a position for engagement with a take-up device, either manuallyor automatically.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novelmechanism for automatically engaging a threading portion of a recordmedium with a take-up device.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following description taken .in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic top plan view of an automaticthreading transducer mechanism in accordance with the present invention,the mechanism being particularly adapted to a magnetic transducingfunction by way of example;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the single spool cartridge forthe embodiment of FIGURE 1, with a portion of the spool broken away andin section;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the take-up reel of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontalsectional View illustratingthe manner in which the record medium threading portion is automaticallyengaged by the take-up reel;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one form of tapethreading portion for the embodiment of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view of a modified takeup reel construction;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of the automatic threadingmechanism of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of a suitable 3 electric controlcircuit for the embodiment of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 9 is a somewhat diagrammatic horizontal sectional view of adevice for use with a manually threaded machine and which serves tostrip the record medium from a single spool cartridge upon manualrotation of the cartridge as well as pressing the record medium backinto engagement with the cartridge as the record medium is being rewoundonto the cartridge.

A single spool cartridge 10 is illustrated in FIGURE 2 by Way of examplewhich is substantially the same as the cartridge illustrated in myPatent No. 3,025,011. This cartridge has a central hub portion 11 and apair of end flanges 12 and 13 with confronting axially inwardlyextending shoulder portions 14 and 15 defining an annular slottherebetween of width less than the width of an outer tape-likethreading portion 16 of the record medium but greater than the width ofthe active portion of the record medium indicated at 17 in FIGURE 5which is wound on the hub 11 inwardly of the outer threading portion 16.The record medium 17 may comprise a tape base with a layer ofmagnetizable particles thereon and the tape base may be suitably securedto a gradually tapering portion 15a of the outer threading portion 16.

In handling of the cartridge 10, the free end of the threading portionor leader 16 which is indicated at 16b in FIGURE 5 is retained radiallyinwardly of the confronting shoulder portions 14 and 15 so as to preventunwinding of the record medium from the cartridge. The threading portion15 is preferably substantially thicker than the active portion of therecord medium and while being sufficiently flexible to be readily woundonto the cartridge 16 has a substantial stiffness in comparison to theactive portion of the record medium so as to facilitate its automaticthreading by the mechanism of the present invention. The threadingleader must also have sufficient flexibility so as to curl or bow acrossits width as it is pulled between the confronting shoulders 14 and 15.

The hub portion of the single spool cartridge may be provided with aconventional central axial aperture 20 and with conventional radialslots such as 21 for engaging a driving tooth associated with the supplyspindle 24. Preferably the supply single spool cartridge is entirelysymmetrical with respect to a central diametric plane at right angles tothe axis of the cartridge so that the cartridge may be inverted andunwound from a take-up spindle of a conventional magnetic tape recorder,for example. The cartridge spool itself is, of course, symmetrical withrespect to any central axial plane in the plane of the central axis ofthe spool so that the cartridge may be placed on the supply spindle 24in any random orientation.

The illustrated transducer mechanism may utilize the tape transport ofany conventional magnetic tape recorder, for example, and may include asuitable magnetic erasing head 30, a suitable magnetic recording and/orplayback head 31, a suitable capstan drive shaft 33 and a suitableshiftable capstan pressure roller 34 which may be shiftable toward andaway from the capstan shaft 33 as indicated by double headed arrow 35 toselectively engage the tape in driving relation to the capstan 33. Thetransducer mechanism may also be provided with a take-up spindlereceiving a take-up reel 41. The take-up reel may comprise a centralcylindrical hub portion 43 and a pair of end flanges 44 and 45 which inthe illustrated embodiment omit the confronting shoulder portions suchas indicated at 14 and 15 on the supply cartridge 10. In the illustratedembodiment, the flanges 44 and 45 are uniformly spaced apart a distanceslightly greater than the width of the threading portion 16 so as tofreely receive the threading portion between the flanges. The hubportion 43 is provided with a central aperture 46 and radial slots suchas indicated at 47 for engaging with a suitable driving jaw associatedwith the take-up spindle 40. The takeup spindle 40 may be of aconventional construction such as found on present magnetic taperecorders.

In order to provide an automatic threading function, a number of partsmay be applied to a conventional tape transport mechanism includingguide members 50, 51 and 52 positioned along the transducing path at theinactive side of the tape and' a guide member 53 adjacent the supplyposition and at the active side of the transducing path. The guides areof configuration and position so as to insure that the threading portion16 of the record medium will be led along the transducing or threadingpath and into proximity to the take-up reel hub 43 during the threadingoperation. Ledges have been indicated at a, 51a and 52a on guides 50, 51and 52 at the level of the inner faces of lower flanges 12 and 45 ofspool 10 and reel 41, respectively, for underlying and slidinglysupporting the lower edge 166 of threading portion 16 during itsthreading movement. If required, threading feed rollers 56 and 57 may beprovided between the guides 50 and 51 for engaging with the free end ofthe threading portion 16 as it is led from the supply cartridge 10 andfor thereafter impelling the threading portion along the transducing orthreading path to a position adjacent the take-up reel 41.

Referring to FIGURE 7, a finger 61 is illustrated pivotally mounted at61 and having a relatively pointed end portion 62 which is adapted tofit in the slot between the confronting flanges or shoulder portions 14and 15 of the cartridge so as to ride on the threading portion 16 of thecartridge and engage under the free end 16b of the threading portion toforce the threading portion out of engagement with the cartridgeshoulders 14 and 15 and along the threading path. A compression springis illustrated at 64 tending to urge the finger in the clockwisedirection about pivot 61 so as to press the pointed end 62 against theouter layer of the threading portion 16 on the cartridge 10.

Suitable means are provided for rotating the cartridge 10 in thecounterclockwise direction during the threading operation, and in theillustrated embodiment, this drive means comprises a drive roller havinga frictional driving surface for engaging the rim portion 12a of theflange 12 so as to rotate the cartridge about the axis of spindle 24.The cartridge drive roller '70 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 72 and iscarried on a mounting arm 73 which is pivotal about a fixed pivot pin75. A compression spring 76 urges the mounting arm '73 to rotate in thecounterclockwise direction about the pivot so as to press the drive roll70 into driving engagement with the rim 12a of the cartridge 10.

The threading feed roller 56 is mounted by means of a shaft 80 on amounting arm 81 which is pivotally mounted on a fixed shaft 82. The arm81 is urged to rotate in'the clockwise direction about pivot 82 by meansof a compression spring 84 so as to press the threading feed roller 56toward the idler feed roller 57 which is rotatable on a fixedly mountedshaft 87.

Drive roller 70 and feed roller 56 are illustrated as being driven bymeans of a suitable motor having an output shaft 91. The shaft 51carries a V-pulley 93, FIGURE 7, which is coupled to a V-pulley 94 bymeans of a suitable V-belt 95 for driving of the roller 70. Similarly, asecond V-pulley on motor shaft 91 drives a pulley 99 on shaft 80 bymeans of a stretchable rubber belt 100 so as to drive the feed roller56.

The motor shaft 91 also carries a drive pinion which meshes with a largegear 111 mounted on a fixed shaft 112 so as to rotate a cam member 114in the clockwise direction during the threading operation. The gearratio between gears 110 and 111 is selected so that the cam member 114makes one complete. revolution during a threading operation. Thus, bythe time the free end 16b of the threading portion 16 of the recordmedium reaches a position as indicated in FIGURE 1 in coupling relationto the take-up reel 41, the cam portion 114 engages the cooperating ends60a, 73a and 81a, FIG- URE 7, of mounting arms 60, 73 and 81 so as tomove the stripping finger 62, the drive roller 70 and the threadingroller 56 to inoperative positions. The cam portion 114 may also actuatea suitable switch operating button 120 of a switch 121 so as todeenergize the motor 90 at the end of the threading operation. Thismotor may be started by momentarily pressing a push button 122, FIG- URE8, to initiate the threading operation, or automatically when a newcartridge is put into place by hand or by a changer.

Thus, feed of the threading portion 16 of the record medium fromcartridge is interrupted when the end 1611 of the threading portionreaches theposition shown in FIGURE 1. At this time, the take-up reel 41has rotated so as to engage its teeth 130 in apertures 131 in the end ofthe threading portion 16. The teeth 130 may have sloping leading edgesas indicated at 130a in FIGURE 4 so as to force the end of the threadingportion radially inwardly into conforming relation to the hub 43.

When button 120 of switch 121 is actuated by cam 11 4, switch contacts132 and 133 are shifted to the left as seen in FIGURE 8 against theaction of spring 134 to deenergize threading motor 90 and discontinuelow speed energization of take-up motor 135, and to operate thetransducing machine for a normal transducing operation.

As indicated in FIGURE 4, teeth 130 may have a radial extentsubstantially greater than the thickness of threading portion 16. Thesecond layer of threading portion 16 on hub 43 will form a smoothcylindrical configuration by resting on the outer tips of the teeth asindicated at 137 in FIGURE 4. The teeth may be uniformly spaced aboutthe entire circumference of hub 43 and apertures 131 will be limited toa length 160 of threading portion 16 equal to the circumference of hub43. The non-apertured part 16d of threading portion 16 may have a lengthexceeding the outer circumference of spool 10 to close all of theapertures 131 when thread-v ing portion 16 is on cartridge 10, but inany event will have a length at least equal to one circumference oftakeup reel hub 43. Thus, leader 16 preferably has a lengthsubstantially equal to an integral number (two or greater) times thetake-up hub circumference.

When the take-up reel has been properly engaged with the end of thethreading portion 16, the capstan pressure roller 34 may be shifted topress the record medium against the capstan 33 so as to begin thetransducing operation, the take-up spindle 40 being driven at asufficient speed to maintain an appropriate tension on the record mediumbeyond the capstan 33 as is conventional.

Suitable felt pressure pads may be provided operating through windows inthe guide 51 so as to press the tape into stable coupling relation tothe heads 30 and 31 as in a conventional magnetic tape recorder.

' The path of tape 17 from supply reel 10 is indicated at 140 in FIGURE7 for maximum tape diameter on cartridge 10 and at 141 for minimum tapediameter with the finger 'in its extreme counterclockwise position asdetermined by the action of the cam portion 114 and as indicated at 60'.The spool shaft 24 may be located in relation to finger 60 so that thetape clears finger 60 even when the tape is at the level of the innerhub of spool 13 as indicated in FIGURE 7; but it has been found that thefinger 60 may ride on the tape, especially if it is shaped so that asharp bend does not occur in the tape as indicated in FIGURE 1.

As examples of modification of the preferred embodiment which may besuitable under certain conditions it may be noted that the single spoolcartridge 10 may have only a single annular shoulder defining the slotsuch as shoulder 14 and that the other shoulder 15 may be omitted,flange 13 having a plane inner face.

As a further alternative, the take-up reel 41 may have a constructionidentical to supply cartridge 10, and suitable means may be provided forforcing the end of the threading portion 16 between the confrontingshoulders corresponding to the shoulders 14 and 15 in FIGURE 2. Forexample, the tape threading portion 16 may be led along a pathtangential to the outer periphery of the take-up reel during threadingoperation. Thereafter a pivotally mounted finger may press the threadingportion 16 radially inwardly between the confronting shoulders such as14 and 15 of the take-up reel, the arm of course having a width lessthan the width of the slot between the confronting shoulders on thetake-up reel. The threading portion 16 could be pressed against teeth bymeans of the pivotally mounted finger-as the take-up reel was rotated toinitiate winding of the threading portion on the take-up reel as in theembodiment of FIGURE 1.

In FIGURE 1, a finger is indicated at which is pivotally mounted on afixed shaft 171 and is urged in the counterclockwise direction bycompression spring 172. The finger 170 may have longitudinal slotstherein at portion 170a thereof which accommodate the moving rows 175,176 and 177, FIGURE 3, of teeth 130. In this case the finger 170 willdirectly engage the threading portion 16 and press the same against thesurface of hub 43. If finger 170 is of solid cross section at portion170a thereof, it will ride on the tips of teeth 130 but still serve toengage threading portion 16 therewith.

As a further alternative, utilizing a take-up reel with confrontingperipheral shoulders such as shoulders 14 and 15 of the supply cartridge10, the threading portion may be twisted by means of suitableretractible guides as it is fed along the path indicated in FIGURE 1 andbetween the flanges of the take-up reel 41.

As a further modification, the take-up reel may have a suitable hook atthe end of a short leader portion secured to the hub 43 so that the hooknormally assumes a posi tion near the outer periphery of the reel 41.The leader portion would have a length equal to or less than the radiusof the take-up reel, for example. portion would then have a cooperatingaperture or the like so as to engage with the hook duringrotation of thetake-up reel 41 after the threading portion had reached a position suchas indicated in FIGURE 1.

Where both the supply and take-up reels are identical, threadingportions such as indicated at 16 may be provided at each end of theactive portion of the record medium and the supply cartridge and take-upreel may be inverted and interchanged to play a second channel on therecord medium. In this case, the threading portions at the opposite endsof the record medium may have titles and the like printed thereon forexample with a different color to distinguish each class of music so asto be visible when the corresponding channel is available for immediateplay. One such title has been indicated on the leader of FIGURE 5. Thelabel on the opposite threading portion would be upside down withrespect to the label indicated in FIGURE 5 but would read from the freeend of the threading portion in the same way as indicated in FIG- URE 5.

During rewind operation, it will be apparent that a suitable tuck-infinger or roller such as indicated at 180 'may be positioned to extendbetween the confronting peripheral shoulders 14 and .15 sufiiciently soas to press the end 16b of the threading portion behind the confrontingshoulders at the end of the rewind operation in the same manner asdescribed in my copending application Serial No. 41,860. Or the finger60 may be rotated slightly in a clockwise direction-during rewind sothat it extends inwardly enough to tuck in the leader. Or the shaft 24may be moved downward slightly during rewind to bring finger 60 inside.After rewind these are restored out of the Way to allow easy loading ofthe cartridge.

It may be noted that the system would still have substantial utilityeven if, after the automatic threading of the threading portion to aposition adjacent. the outer periphery The threading of the take-upreel, the tape were manually threaded with a take-up reel such asindicated in my copending application Serial No. 41,860, for example orengaged with teeth 130 by means of a manually operated pivotal fingersuch as finger 170 just described. In this event, the threading pathwould extend tangentially of but spaced from the take-up reel $1 forconvenience of manual access to the end of the threading portion 16. Thethreading portion may simply be an extra wide portion of thenon-magnetic base of a tape record medium rather than a special extrathick leader material, for example in the case where a take-up reel asshown in Serial No. 41,860 is utilized.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a modified take-up reel 182 facilitating manualengagement of apertured end 16c of the threading portion 16 with teeth130 on hub 4-3. The top flange 183 is cut away as indicated at 184 and185 to expose teeth 130 from above the reel. The reel is otherwiseidentical to reel 41.

It will be noted that the automatic threading mechanism of FIGURE 1 isapplicable to the case of a conventional spool of tape record mediumwhere the end of the tape is self-adhesive to an adjacent convolutionthereof, but may be stripped or peeled from such adjacent convolution bymeans of a tfinger as indicated at 60.

As further possible modifications, a take-up reel such as indicated at51 having a spacing between the flanges equal or greater than the widthof the threading port-ion '16 may have at the innermost peripheralportion thereof adjacent the hub 43 .a tapering width so as to befrictionally engaged with the threading portion when the threadingportion is pressed radially into engagement with such tapering portionadjacent the hub by means of a pivotal finger for example. Many othermeans for engaging the threading portion with the take-up reel are ofcourse possible.

The various automatic threading means of the present application are, ofcourse directly applicable to the automatic changer mechanisms and tothe automatic supply cartridge loading mechanism of my copendingapplications Ser. No. 801,403, Ser. No. 41,860 and Ser. No. 97,590.

Electric circuit FIGURE 8 show-s an electric control circuit for theembodiment of FIGURE 1 simply by way of example to illustrate theoperation thereof. When the transducer mechanism is in a stop conditionprior to receipt of a new cartridge, a portion of the surface of cammember 114 will be maintaining button 120 in its depressed positionagainst the action of spring means 134. In this condition, contacts 132and 133 are open and contact 200 is closed. Relay 2111 is un-latched tointerrupt the circuit from low voltage line 2113 at contact 204 toprevent energization of relays 207 .and 208.

When start switch 122, FIGURE 8, is actuated, current is supplied fromlow voltage line 203 through the upper contact of the start switch tothreading motor 90 to begin driving of timing gear 111. As soon as cammember 1 14 moves out of engagement with plunger 120, spring means 134returns the plunger 120 to the right to close contacts 132 and 133 andopen contact 200. This supplies voltage to threading motor 90 throughcontact *133 so that start switch 122 can be released. Closure ofcontact 132 supplies voltage from line 203 to takeup motor 135 drivingtake-up shaft 40, FIGURE 1, in the counterclockwise direction.

When threading portion 16 has reached a position approximately as shownin FIGURE 1, cam member 114 actuates plunger 120, to interrupt thesupply of voltage to threading motor 90 and take-up motor 135 from lowvoltage line 203. Just prior to this time latching relay 2611 isactuated to latched condition :by any suitable means, for example aconductive film on the threading portion 16 such as indicated at 210 inFIGURE 8 bridging stationary contacts 211 and 212. Thus, when contact201 is closed, voltage is supplied from low voltage line 2113 throughcontact 200 of switch 1-21 .and through contact 294 of relay 2111 toactuate relay 207 and close contacts 212, 213 and 2414 thereof. Voltageis now supplied from high voltage line 220 through the lower contact ofstart switch 122 and contact 213 to the forward energizing circuit ofcapstan motor 225, and through the lower contact 2114 of relay 207 tocapstan roller shifting solenoid 227 Which serves to resiliently pressroller 34 against the capstan 33 to initiate capstan drive of the tapein the forward direction. High voltage is supplied from line 2211 andupper contact 212 of relay 207 and upper contact 230 of relay 208 to thetake-up motor 135 to drive the take-up shaft '40 at normal speed for atr-ansducing operation to maintain the tape taut between the capstan 33and the take-up reel 41.

When the tape has been substantially completely wound on the take-upreel 11, a conductive strip on an inner leader 232, FIGURE 2, connectedto the cartridge 10 may bridge between contacts 235 and 236 to actuate alatching relay 2 10 and close a contact 24 1 thereof. This in turnactuates relay 2418 to energize a supply motor 245 drivin-gsupply shaft24 and to drive capstan motor 225 in the opposite direction whiledeenergizing takeup motor 135. Relay contact 231 may also controlenergization of solenoid 251 which when energized shifts tuck-in rollerin the upward direction as seen in FIGURE 1 or the rig-ht as seen inFIGURE 8 through the medium of compression spring 251. When thethreading portion 16 has been almost completely rewound on the cartridge10, conductive strip 2 10 bridges contacts 2611 and 2 6 1 to momentarilyenergize release solenoids 265 and 266 unlatching relays 2111 and 240 todeenergize all solenoids and relays and return the circuit to itsinitial condition.

Summary of operation In operation of the embodiment of FIGURE 1, asingle spool cartridge such as indicated at 10 in FIGURE 2 is placed onthe supply spindle 24. At this time, cam member 114 of gear 111 isactuating arms 60, 73 and 81. When the cartridge has been positionedeither manually or mechanically, start switch 122, FIGURE 8, is momentarily operated either manually or automatically to energize motor 9%and drive the gear wheel 111 in the clockwise direction to disengage thecam member 114 from its cooperating elements including button 120 ofswitch 121. When this has occurred, motor for the take-up shaft 40 isenergized by a low voltage to begin slowly rotating reel 41 in thecounterclockwise direction while roller 70 drives supply cartridge 10 inthe counterclockwise direction and spring 64 causes stripping edge '62to be pressed against the outer surface of threading portion 16 of therecord medium on cartridge 10.

Presently, leading edge 16]), FIGURE 5, of threading portion 16 comesinto engagement with the stripping edge 62 to disengage the threadingportion 16 from the confronting shoulders 14 and 15, FIGURE 2. As thethreading portion 16 is unwound from the cartridge 10 it is-led alongthe threading path. Motor 90' may also drive a feed roller 56 to assistin movement of the threading portion 16 along the threading path untilthe end of the threading portion reaches the position indicated in FIG-URE 1. At this time, cam member 114 moves stripping finger 60 to aninactive position such as indicated at 60' in FIGURE 7 and disengagesfeed roller 56 and supply cartridge drive roller 70. Also at this time,capstan pressure roller 34 is shifted to engage the tape with capstan 33and normal driving torque i supplied to the take-up spindle 40 to begina record transducing operation.

The leading edge of the threading portion 16 is tapered as indicated at16 to facilitate movement of the threading portion between the flanges44 and 45, FIGURE 3, of the 9 take-up reel. A pivotal finger 170 isindicated for holding the apertured end portion 16c of threading portion16, FIGURE 5, against teeth 130 on the hub 43 of the takeup reel. Sincethe hub is rotating slowly in the counterclockwise direction duringthreading operation, the end of the threading leader 16 is fed betweenthe hub 43 and the portion 170a of finger 170 and into engagement withthe teeth to initiate winding of the threading portion onto the take-upreel 41.

During rewind operation, a tuck-in roller 180 may be shifted upwardly asseen in FIGURE 1 to press the threading portion 16 behind theconfronting shoulders 14 and 15, FIGURE 2. At the end of the rewindoperation, tuckin roller 80 may be returned to its position shown inFIG- URE 1 to facilitate removal of the cartridge from the spindle 20.

It may be noted that the take-up reel may be engaged with the threadingportion 16 while rotating at its normal speed where the driving clutchfor the take-up reel does not present an undue inertia and would allowthe reel 41 to slow to a speed corresponding to the speed of movement ofthe threading portion 16 when the teeth 130 initially engage with thethreading portion. Where low speed operation of the reel 41 isunnecessary during threading, the connection between contact 132 andthreading motor 135 may be omitted, contact 212 of relay 207 may beomitted, and the high voltage line 220 may be connected directly to thetake-up motor 135 under the con trol of contact 230.

As a further modification, it may be noted that threading between asupply cartridge 10 and a take-up reel 41 may be effected above thetransducer path of a transducing machine, after which the supplycartridge, the take-up reel and the length of record medium therebetweenmay be allowed to drop vertically downwardly onto the transducermechanism. This type of an arrangement would be applicable to atransducer machine of existing design without any changes of thetransducer machine itself since the automatic threading mechanism cansimply comprise a casing placed on top of the transducer mechanism.Such; an automatic threading mechanism may comprise a top cover plategenerally coextensive with the side of the transducer mechanism havingthe supply and take-up spindles. The cover plate would have circularopenings therein aligned with the supply and take-up spindles toaccommodate insertion of the supply cartridge and takeup reel intopositions directly above and aligned with the supply spindle and thetake-up spindle respectively. Suitable means may initially retain thesupply cartridge and take-up reel in spaced relation above the take-upspindle and the supply spindle and such means may comprise, for example,three rollers having lower flanges which normally underlie therespective supply and take-up reels and 'rotatably support the reelsabove the supply and take-up nism and a suitable spring urged fingersuch as indicated at 170 in FIGURE 4 may serve to engage the end of thethreading portion with suitable teeth on the take-up reel. One of therollers supporting the take-up reel may cause the take-up reel to rotatein a direction to Wind the record medium thereon. A shiftable bottomplate may normally close the bottom side of the threading path so as tosupport the record medium during the threading operation. This bottomplate may be shifted to register a slot therein with the threading pathso as to allow the tape to drop into the transducing path of thetransducer mechanism. At the same time, two or more of the rollerssupporting each of the supply cartridge and the take-up reel may beshifted to allow the supply cartridge to drop onto the supply spindleand the take-up reel to drop onto the take-up spindle. The cover' platemay be designed to provide manual access to the supply and take-upcartridges for removal of the cartridges from the supply and take-upspindles after play of the record medium. The supply and take-upcartridges may be of identical configuration and inverted andinterchanged to play a second channel on the record medium if desired.

FIGURE 9 shows a tuck-in abutment finger 330 pivotally mounted at 331adjacent a fixed supply spindle 332 of a conventionally threadedmachine. The cartridge 10 on the spindle 332 is of the same constructionas shown in FIGURE 2 and has a tape leader 16 which is to be tuckedbehind annular shoulders such as indicated at 14 and 15 in FIGURE 2 asthe tape is rewound onto cartridge 10 from a take-up reel such as 182 inFIGURE 6. The operative end of finger 330' is of a height to fit betweenthe confronting shoulders 14 and 15 of cartridge 10. A spring 333 isconnected between the finger 330 and a base plate 334 which carriespivot pin 331 to urge the finger in the clockwise direction. A stop pin3-35 is carried by the plate 334 in such a position that end 330a willnormally assume a position as shown in FIGURE 9 engaging the tape leader16 radially inwardly of the outermost convolution thereof on thecartridge so as to be adapted to strip the free end 16b of the leaderfrom the cartridge when the cartridge is manually rotated in thecounterclockwise direction. During rewind the spring 333 will exertsufficient force to tuck. the end portion of leader 16 which is Widerthan the record tape behind the annular shoulders 14 and 15.

During loading of a cartridge on spindle 332, finger 330 may be manuallyrotated in the counterclockwise direction to a position such asindicated in dotted outline at 330. After the cartridge is in place,finger 330 is released and the cartridge is manually rotated in thecounterclockwise direction to cause the end of finger 330 to engageunder end 16]) of tape leader 16 and force the leader out from behindshoulders 14 and 15 where it may be conveniently manually engaged andthreaded, .the end of the leader being pressed into detachableengagement with a take-up reel such as 182 in FIGURE 6. The threadingpath is indicated at 336 in FIGURE 9. During rewind of the tape onto thecartridge 10, the leader 16 is automatically pulled out of engagementwith the take-up reel 182 and pressed behind the shoulders 14 and 15 bythe action of tuck-in finger 330.

If a larger spool is to be placed on supply spindle 332, the plate 334together with finger 330 may be removed from its mounting channel 337 inthe direction of arrow 338. The channel 337 may comprise a flat baseportion 337a secured to the top panel of the machine, for example bydouble faced pressure sensitive tape. The base portion has flanges 3371)and 337a defining opposed channels for receiving the edges of base plate334 in sliding relationship. One end of each channel is closed bystaking flanges 33'7b and 3370 as indicated at 3370! and 337e. The plate334 may be held in place in channel 337 by friction or any othersuitable means.

FIGURE 9 hereof corresponds to FIGURE 5b of my Patent No. 3,197,150.

It will be apparent that many further modifications and variations maybe effected without departing from the scope of the broad concepts ofthe present invention.

'1 claim as my invention:

1. A transducing machine comprising means for rotatably mount-ing acartridge having a record medium wound thereon including a threadingportion at the outerend thereof, means cooperable with a cartridge onsaid mounting means for automatically disengaging said threading portionof the record medium from the cartridge, means located along a threadingpath of the machine for receiving the record medium from the automaticdisengaging means and for guiding the threading portion of the recordmedium along the threading path to a take-up position, means for drivingthe record medium along the threading path during the threadingoperation, and means for automatically disengaging said driving meanswhen the free end of the threading portion of the record medium reachessaid take-up position.

2. A transducing machine comprising a supply reel drive, a take-up reeldrive and elements defining a transducing path therebetween, a singlespool cartridge disposed on said supply reel drive in coupled relationthereto and having a record medium wound thereon including a threadingportion and having means retaining the free end of the threading portionin detachable engagement with the cartridge, disengagement meanspositioned adjacent the supply reel drive and cooperable with the freeend of the threading portion of the record medium on the cartridge todisengage the threading portion from said detachable engagement means ofthe cartridge, guide means located along the transducing path forreceiving the record medium from the disengagement means and for guidingthe record medium toward the take-up reel drive for coupling to a reelon the take-up reel drive and winding thereon, means for driving thethreading portion along the transducing path during the threadingoperation, and timing means responsive to the feed of the threadingportion of the record medium along said transducing path forautomatically interrupting the threading portion driving means when theend of the threading portion reaches a position in proximity to thetake-up reel drive.

3. An automatic threading transducing machine comprising a single spoolcartridge having a record medium Wound thereon including a threadingportion at the outer end thereof releasably held by said cartridge,means for rotatably mounting said cartridge, means for disengaging saidthreading portion from said cartridge and for moving said threadingportion along a threading path in the transducing machine, means forautomatically receiving and storing said record medium at the end ofsaid threading path during the forward transducing operation and forsupplying said record medium to the threading path for rewind onto saidcartridge during a rewind operation, reengaging means for reengagingsaid threading portion with said cartridge during rewind operation andmovable from an inactive position relative to said cartridge affordingconvenient loading of said cartridge on said rotatably mounting means toan active position relative to said cartridge for reengaging thethreading portion with said cartridge, and means responsive to apredetermined condition of the record medium after unwinding thereoffrom said cartridge for automatically initiating rewind of the recordmedium onto said cartridge and for automatically shifting saidreengaging means from said inactive position relative to said cartridgeto said active position relative to said cartridge for reengaging thethreading portion with the cartridge at the end of the rewind operation.

4. An automatic threading transducing machine comprising means forrotatably mounting a single spool cartridge having a record medium woundthereon including a threading portion at the outer end thereofreleasably held by said cartridge, means for disengaging said threadingportion from said cartridge and for guiding the same along a threadingpath to a take-up position, a take-up device adjacent said take-upposition for receiving said threading portion in detachable engagementtherewith and for Winding said record medium thereon as it is unwoundfrom said cartridge, said take-up device having means automaticallyengageable with said threading portion of said record medium at saidtake-up position for detachably coupling said record medium to saidtake-up device, means for initially driving said take-up device at arelatively low speed during coupling thereof with said threadingportion, and means for driving said take-up device at a relativelyhigher speed after engagement of the threading portion with said take-updevice.

5. A transducing machine comprising means for rotatably mounting acartridge having a record medium wound thereon including a threadingportion at the outer end thereof releasably held by said cartridge,means for automatically disengaging said threading portion of the recordmedium from the cartridge and for guiding the threading portion of therecord medium along a threading path to a take-up position, auxiliarymeans for driving the record medium along the threading path during thethreading operation, releasable capstan driving means for engaging therecord medium and driving the same along the threading path at atransducing speed, and means responsive to the threading portion of therecord medium reaching said take-up position for automaticallydisengaging said auxiliary driving means and for automatically engagingsaid capstan driving means to begin a transducing operation with respectto the record medium.

6. The machine of claim 5 with said responsive means comprising meansrotatable in synchronization with said cartridge and operable afterrotation through a predetermined distance to automatically disengagesaid auxiliary driving means and to automatically engage said capstandriving means.

7. A single spool cartridge transducing machine comprising a singlespool cartridge having a record medium wound thereon including athreading portion at the outer end thereof releasably held by saidcartridge, means for disen aging said threading portion from saidcartridge and for guiding the threading portion along a transducing pathto progressively unwind the record medium from said cartridge with therecord medium occupying a locus of paths adjacent the cartridge as therecord medium is progressively unwound therefrom, said threading portiondisengaging means being located in spaced relation relative to saidlocus of paths and lying on the side of said locus of paths adjacent thepath corresponding to a minimum amount of record medium on saidcartridge.

3. The machine of claim 7 with said disengaging means comprising amember having a pointed end for stripping the free end of said threadingportion from said cartridge.

9. The machine of claim 8 with means responsive to the threading portionbeing unwound from the cartridge a predetermined amount to automaticallyshift said member to a position clear of said cartridge but spaced fromsaid locus of paths of said record medium adjacent said cartridge sothat the record medium is out of contact with the pointed end of saidmember even when substantially completely unwound from said cartridge.

10. The machine of claim 9 with a reengagement member movableindependent of said disengaging member and movable to a position toreengage the threading portion with the cartridge during rewind of thethreading portion onto said cartridge while said disengaging memberremains in said position clear of said cartridge.

11. An automatic threading transducing machine comprising means forrotatably mounting a single spool cartridge having a record medium woundthereon including a threading portion at the outer end thereofreleasably held by said cartridge, means for disengaging said threadingportion from said cartridge and for guiding the same along a threadingpath to a take-up position, a take-up device adjacent said take-upposition for receiving said threading portion in detachable engagementtherewith and for Winding said record medium thereon as it is unwoundfrom said cartridge, said take-up device having means automaticallyengageable with said threading portion of said record medium at saidtake-up position for detachably coupling said record medium to saidtake-up device, means for initially driving said take-up device at arelatively low speed during coupling thereof with said threadingportion, means for driving said take-up device at a relatively higherspeed after engagement of the threading portion with said take-updevice, and means responsive 13 14 to travel of the threading portion apredetermined distance 2,614,761 10/1952 Camras 242-541 along saidthreading path for automatically shifting the 2,891,736 6/1959 Blaes24255.12 driving of said take-up device from said relatively low3,001,025 9/1961 Gaubert. speed to said relatively higher speed.3,006,650 10/ 1961 Ellmore.

5 References Cited by the Examiner MERVIN STEIN, Pn-mary Examiner UNITEDSTATES PATENTS JOSEPH P. STRIZAK, DONALD W. PARKER, Examiners. 2,462,2612/1949 Goloberg 24271.8

L. D. CHRISTIAN, G. F. MAUTZ,A '1 tE, 2,503,453 4/1950 Pratt et a1"242-44 0 W mml'wrs

1. A TRANSDUCING MACHINE COMPRISING MEANS FOR ROTATABLY MOUNTING ACARTRIDGE HAVING A RECORD MEDIUM WOUND THEREON INCLUDING A THREADINGPORTION AT THE OUTER END THEREOF, MEANS COOPERABLE WITH A CARTRIDGE ONSAID MOUNTING MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGING SAID THREADING PORTIONOF THE RECOND MEDIUM FROM THE CARTRIDGE, MEANS LOCATED ALONG A THREADINGPATH OF THE MACHINE FOR RECEIVING THE RECORD MEDIUM FROM THE AUTOMATICDISENGAGING MEANS AND FOR GUIDING THE THREADING PORTION OF THE RECORDMEDIUM ALONG THE THREADING PATH TO A TAKE-UP POSITION, MEANS FOR DRIVINGTHE RECORD MEDIUM ALONG THE THREADING PATH DURING THE THREADINGOPERATION, AND MEANS FOR AUTO-